IS A CAREER AS A CHEF RIGHT FOR YOU?
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Relationships That Last a Lifetime
While the focus is on cultivating world-class culinary skills, the true hallmark of an ICA education is the lasting relationships forged within its walls.
These bonds between students, lecturers and alumni form a network of support and mentorship that extends well beyond graduation, shaping lives and careers for years to come.
It is a brotherhood. A legacy.
One of the reasons these connections run so deep is the ICA’s commitment to small class sizes. Every student is known by name, every strength and weakness is noticed, and every achievement is celebrated. This creates an environment where no one gets lost in the crowd and where genuine care and personal attention become part of daily life. It is within this close-knit setting that students not only master their craft but also cultivate relationships that grow into lifelong alliances.
Lecturers, too, play a crucial role. With their wealth of culinary industry knowledge, they guide students with a level of personal detail that can only come from knowing, truly knowing, the students in their classrooms and training kitchens. Over time, this nurtures a relationship that is more than teacher and student — it is mentor and mentee, built on trust, respect and a shared passion for excellence. Many alumni speak of their lecturers not only as educators but as pivotal figures who encouraged them through the tough times on campus, who supported them during industry placements … when often times they had to dig deep in order not to give up. Past students remember how lecturers challenged and inspired them to pursue their culinary dreams with confidence, believing in them when they doubted themselves. Graduates think back to little and big moments when reassuring words from faculty members gave them the necessary nerve to try again … eventually graduating from what is known as South Africa’s best chef school!
The impact of these relationships doesn’t end at graduation. ICA alumni remain part of the extended family, often returning to share their expertise, collaborate with their peers or mentor the next generation of chefs. During practical placement blocks, it is not uncommon for students to find themselves training under ICA graduates, a unique cycle of mentorship that reinforces the school’s values of excellence, community, philosophy and growth. In these moments, students witness firsthand the professional and personal legacy of their predecessors, while alumni take pride in shaping the chefs who will follow in their footsteps.
ICA’s doors are always open to welcome alumni from all corners of the world. When faculty members cross paths with past students — whether on campus, in kitchens, or at events across the globe — the reunions are filled with stories, laughter, and heartfelt gratitude for the training they received. ICA follows their journeys and staying connected with alumni like Hylton Espey (Culture Restaurant, UK); Monché Muller (Pink Valley Wines & Restaurant), Frik Oosthuizen & Piet van der Westhuizen (Santa Annas), Peter Tempelhoff (FYN; Beyond: Ramenhead), Johnny Hamman (John Joseph – The Anatomy of Food) Angelo Scirocco (Brugarol, Spain), Jacques Erasmus (Hemelhuijs), Jesper Nilsson (ëlgr), Herman Lensing, Kobus van der Merwe (Wolfgat), Michael Cooke (food writer – EatOut Magazine), Vickie de Beer (award-winning author), and Mark Colebank — to name only a few from a list too long to mention — continue to reflect the ICA legacy in their work and their ongoing bond with the school. Each encounter reminds us that this brotherhood is not bound by time or distance, but lives on through shared memories, mutual respect, and a deep appreciation for the culinary arts.
This culture of connection has a profound and lasting effect. ICA graduates step into the industry not as isolated professionals, but as part of a strong, supportive network that spans kitchens, restaurants, and businesses across the world. They carry with them not only the skills to excel in a competitive global environment but also the relationships, memories and – most importantly – ICA values that were nurtured in their formative years on campus.
Ultimately, the ICA experience is about more than producing exceptional chefs. It is about shaping individuals who understand the value of community, mentorship and giving back. These lifelong bonds — forged in the intensity of training, the shared pursuit of excellence and the joy of culinary creativity — ensure that ICA graduates never walk their journey alone. They walk it together, cut from the same cloth, as part of a culinary legacy that continues to grow, inspire and redefine what it means to be a chef.
